Who uses police discretion?

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Discretion means the freedom to make decisions within established guidelines. In policing, officers decide how to handle a situation—whether to issue a warning, file a citation, or make an arrest—based on the specifics of what’s happening. But discretion isn’t limited to police. Prosecutors decide which charges to file, what to pursue in court, and whether to offer plea deals. Defense attorneys choose strategies, decide what arguments to pursue, and negotiate with the prosecution. Judges exercise discretion in rulings, evidence admissibility, bail decisions, and sentencing. Since this kind decision-making happens across multiple roles in the system, all of the above use police discretion.